Birdsnest issues

[sandswhitson]

Hello all,

I am having some issues with a couple of different birdsnests. Two of the four that we have in our tank are losing tissue from the bottom up. The pink one has been losing tissue for quite a while now and we have tried moving it and it didn't change anything. The "Birds of Paradise" has receded about a 1/2" and has seemed to stop but not positive on that. ALL other SPS are doing fine. Any suggestions?

 

[sandswhitson]

Here are a couple of pics.

 

[mcoomer]

I think I'd be fragging some tips off that first one and trying to save those. That coral looks to be in pretty bad shape. Can't see the BOP as clearly but seems to be doing the same thing.

Do you have any pests in the tank that you know of? Flatworms apparently don't like to much on these corals as much as they do other acro's but made something else is at work here. What are your water parameters (Ca, Alk, NO3)? What type of lighting, how far from the lights are these, and when did you last change your lamps? Any other corals suffering in your tank? Give us some more info on your tank and water parameters.

Mike

 

[jrgilles]

Yea, I would make a bunch of frags with the tips to save that. Not sure what it is, but since it has spread through the base, that coral has a good chance of completely dying...

 

[kevinpo]

Hello,
I would cut the coral in a couple of areas just above receded part to be safe. Mount these frags in a high flow area regardless of light intensity. Seriatopora really like high flow and without it the insides of colonies can die and the fouling of the tissue can poison the entire colony. Be sure to check that the main coral is receiving high alternating flow in the center area where the branching is close/tight.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[returnofsid]

Scott, how's your Alkalinity? Any time I've had similar issues, it's always been when I've either neglected my alk and it's dropped way low, OR when my Alk is too high.

 

[sandswhitson]

Alk was at 9 which is only slightly higher than I usually keep it. And it is only affecting two of four birdsnests.

 

[returnofsid]

Hmmm, then I'd say it's not Alk caused, at all. I'm at a loss! I hope fragging helps! If you do lose the Pink, you know where to find plenty more.

 

[Faciosity]

I've had that happen to me in the recent past with birdsnest, and with pocillopora. Never found out what did it but I cut all the tips, and they all survived and started growing.

 

[JoeKnowsReefs.com]

Definitely frag those tips hope for the best. That colony is severely affected. Did this happen rapidly or slowly over a few weeks?

 

[Playapixie]

I have a ponape birds nest that started looking like this (although not as severe) about 2 weeks ago and gradually spread. With the last water change I spotted what looked like some kind of nudibranch on one of the arms. However, it didn't look like the pictures on the internet of the monti eating nudis. The one I had was log and skinny and reddish, not white and multi-branched. Not sure if that was the issue or not, and I haven't spotted anything that look like eggs. Anyhow, with the nudi gone, it seems that the tissue recession has stopped, and to my surprise, tissue and color are returning to the affected areas. Anyhow, point being: did you find any suspicious pests on the colonies?